The Press., 1887-12-01
lFrom inc Monson Mirror.l

Wales, Mass, August Q, 1887.
 FRIEND FoRAfAN This is not the land of Owen Glendower, nor of the Lewellyns, Thomases, Aptomasses, Roberts, Bevins, Apshenkins and others of British fame and memory. But it bears favorable compar- ison with the Wales of old in that it stands two thousand feet above the level of the sea, and is marked by rugged old hills, one of which, veritable Pisgah, cannot be ex- celled, even by the grand old hills of Berkshire, in the extent and beauty of the scenery which it's summit discloses to the delighted eyes of all beholders. A sylvan lake of one hundred acres in area lies in the basin formed by surrounding eleva- tions, placid and perpetual mirror of the rich foliage which skirts it's borders. A sight of many of the beautiful mountain lakelets of New England has gladly greeted my eyes in days of the past, including those lakes of larger dimensions, Lake George and Lake Champlain, but upon none of these can be bestowed warmer words of admiration for certain quiet and charming repose than upon the highly prlzed sheet of living water high up among the hills of Wales. I said highly-p prized, which refers not simply to the delights of rowing, fishing bathing and skating, but to the more important fact that its outlet has afforded water power for various mills, the most extensive and important of which now remaining are the woolen mills of Elijah Shaw, whose yearly earnings already foot up to the respectable figure of two millions of dollars ($2, 900, ,OOO).
 Wales, situated in the northeast part of Hampden county, rocky and void of a fer tile soil though it be, like many other townships in old Massachusetts, has yield ed staunch and enterprising descendants from a vigorous old stock, which ancestral stock counts among it's well-remembered roll the names of Anthony Needham, John Bullen, the Moultons, Mungers, Gardners and Hitchcocks. Oliver Wales, who set tied here ill 1766, was the grandfather of our excellent friend Salem Fl. Wales, of conspicuous New York reputation. James L. Wales, another descendant of Oliver Wales, by reason of gift of $2,000 was honored by the legislature in securing the name of Wales to the town, the original name having been Brimfeld. William B. Howard, the millionaire contractor of Chi caeo, and second in the firm of Brown, Howard & Co.,, engaged in the construc- tion of the new Croton aqueduct, is a na- tive of Wales, who has just presented to his native town an appropriate granite fountain where men, women, children, horses, oxen, COWS, sheep, pigs, dogs and other animals can conveniently drink the cool water that comes sparkling up for their delight from distant hill The cost of this unique and benevolent memorial gift we'll nigh approaches the sum of three thousand dollars, and was designed and built under the personal superintendence of the present "Prince of Wales," Mir. Henry M. Neet dham, the we'll known real estate lawyer of Brooklyn, and the second cousin of Mir. Howard. Mir. Needham like MT. Howard, O native of Wales, is a ineal descendant of Anthony Needham, one of the earliest settlers of Wales, and the great, great grandson still clings with commend. able affection to the home of his youth, which he constantly improves, adorns, and makes his summer resting place.
 Of the varieties of trees which are con- stantly growing upon the hills of Wales, and subsequently, appearing in the shape of railway sleepers, building timber, fuel and street ornamentation, the most promi- nent and useful are the chestnut, oak, ,hick- ory, elm, maple and white pine. The for ests are thickly studded with the last named, which render grateful perfume to one's gladdened nostrils, sweeter to me than that of cologne or Edena water, while looking at it's straight and stately rise tow ard the Armament creates in my breast sense of religious sublimity only equalled by that of beholding the isolated palm of symmetrically shaped church splre. Be- sides these indispensable trees of the noun tains, good butter, milk, cheese, pork, po- tatoes, cabbage, turnips, carrots, beets, pumpkins, apples, cider, chickens, turkeys, eggs and charcoal must be named as the steady exports of Wales, as well as the woolen cloths, stockinet and fancy cassi- meres already alluded to.
 Five common schools and two churches, Baptist and Methodist, lie at the foun- dation at the secular and religious life of the people of Wales, and it is only simple justice to state that they are generously and permanently appreciated and sustain ed, as the intelligence and enterprise of the inhabitants abundantly show. The Mon son Mirror and the Stafford Press are the weekly distributors of the local and more distant news. Writing as do now from Royce's hotel, the former home of Salem H. Wales, a most peaceful highland resort,